Basketball is adored by folks all over the young and old for many years. This article is intended to help to fans and players of all skill level you are at with basketball.

Learn the mechanics of a free throw shot. Practice a lot with the following technique.Begin by holding the ball up to eye level. Keep your eyes on the goal while visualizing the ball going into the hoop. Then shoot the ball in the trajectory you imagined.

TIP! If you typically handle the ball a lot, it pays to learn the crossover. Being able to dribble the ball with both hands and crossover between the two will make you a better player.

Always dribble with your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while dribbling.Bring the ball along when you go out. Dribble the ball when you’re walking the shops. If you’re looking at the basketball, you can’t see the court.

You need to keep your balance when you shoot.You have seen how pros shoot a basket from thirty feet away and fall out of bounds, but these shots aren’t going to be based on fundamentals.If you are able to improve your sense of balance, you will make more consistent baskets over time.

TIP! It is important to keep your balance when you shoot. You have seen how pros shoot a basket from thirty feet away and fall out of bounds, which is not the right technique.

Focus on your strengths to get better ball player.You might not become a big basketball star based on your strengths, even if these skills do not make you one of the star players. Know the things you’re great at and practice them until you have perfected them.

A good way to hone your basketball game up to speed is to start trying to see how the pros.

TIP! To learn how to pass well, drill without dribbling. Playing basketball without dribbling is very challenging, but your entire team will quickly improve their passing skills.

Do not practice solely against zone defense plays. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you. If your practice did not include this, you may lose the match fast.

Never play through an injury. Basketball is physically demanding and you can get injured. Trying to play through the pain could just make your situation worse. See a physician if the injury is serious enough.

TIP! Use deception by looking elsewhere when you make passes. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents.

Understanding the opponent is key in beating a good way to win with defense. Review videotapes and keep up with scouting reports. When you know some of the other player’s moves, you will play a better defense. A person that is knowledgeable is an effective defender.

Always be sure of where your feet are and what they’re doing.

TIP! Give your layouts the most by launching from the foot that opposes the hand you are shooting with. If you use your right hand to shoot, use your left foot to take off.

Ask someone to take a video of you can see how yourself in action. You may see where you can improve and notice things you missed. Be honest with yourself but not overly critical.

Practice looking in other directions. This is a great technique in order to help confuse the opposition. When done properly, the look draws your opponents to the wrong locale so that the person you passed to has a good long look at the basket before shooting. It’s a great play if done right.

TIP! A routine can enable your free throw percentage to rise. If you are inconsistent then your shot will be off.

Dribble with force to prevent the ball taken from you. If someone is close to you and is really good at guarding you, halt your dribble and pass to an open teammate.

Be sure your site is good.This isn’t just so you can read the scoreboard and be able to make good shots as well as catching passes that come your way. You want to make sure that your peripheral vision is at its best.

TIP! A great drill to try is to see how many dribbles it takes for you to make it across the court. The ideal number of dribbles is five.

Everyone knows that people from all backgrounds enjoy basketball. You have to have the right information to truly enjoy and play the game, though. Refer to the information presented here to enhance your game in an ongoing manner.

Basketball is a sport that tons of people worldwide enjoy. You can play at the park or in your driveway. Read this article to learn the ins and outs of basketball.

Many people forget that defense is the key to winning. Defense is what stands between you win a win. Offense gets attention and praise, but without a good defense, any team can lose.

TIP! You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. You need to use the tips of your fingers rather than your hand’s palm when you are dribbling.

You must have good balance when you shoot. While the all-time greats have shown time and time again how they can shoot while off-kilter, this is not appropriate for most people. If you are able to improve your sense of balance, you will make more consistent baskets over time.

Focus on your strong point to help you become a better at basketball. Your best talent may not make you the star of every game, but you’ll be contributing a lot to your team. Know the things you’re great at and keep practicing to get even better.

TIP! Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. When you do a crossover, you move the basketball very fast from one hand over to the other hand.

Bounce Pass

Learn how a proper bounce pass. A bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the receiving player at waist level. A useful tip is to have the ball to bounce roughly 3/4 of the distance to the receiving player is. There are other things to keep in mind, as well.

TIP! Making a free throw takes mental concentration as well as physical prowess. You can train your body to complete the motions of making a free throw, but if you are mentally prepared to fail, you will.

Play basketball against yourself even during the season and before it. While basketball is a team sport, you may not be able to find others that will play. You can accomplish a lot when playing solo. You can work on pivots and free throws or pivot moves. You can always find things to work on something.

This will involve their lower back, lower back, and hips. A well developed core provides a player generate force that can be tapped through the legs to be applied to faster running and jumping higher.

Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a vital part of basketball.You always want to beat the open spot.Once you have a location, secure your spot. These will both require solid footwork.

After reading the above article you should have an idea on what it takes to follow the game of basketball. As with any sport, getting better takes hard work and a willingness to learn. Once you start playing you probably will start to do so regularly. Go out there and enjoy yourself!

TIP! Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. Muscle strength is beneficial for playing any basketball position, but there is such a thing as too much.

Basketball is a simple sport that many people play all over the world. Every person on the game uses various skills so that they’re able to win the game. The following article will help you improve your game.

Learn the mechanics of a free throws. Practice a lot with the following technique.Start with the basketball right in front of your face. Keep your eyes on the goal while visualizing the ball going through the hoop. Then shoot! Shoot the ball with the trajectory you visualized.

TIP! Dribbling the ball the right way needs to be done. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm.

Learn how a proper bounce pass is thrown. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player near their waist. A useful tip is to have the ball to bounce roughly 3/4 of the distance that the recipient. There are other factors you have to think about too, though.

A great way to get your own basketball game up to speed is to start trying to see how the pros are playing.

TIP! Know your strengths and they’ll help you become a better player. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player.

Want to make the other team? Back passes can give your team the opportunity to score while the other players.Use the dominant hand to hold onto the back pass. This is a very useful trick to confuse the other team into wondering where the ball went.

Never play through pain after an injury. Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can easily get hurt. Trying to play through the pain could just make your situation worse. See a physician if the injury is serious enough.

Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for what’s coming. This will make you aware of the court and you won’t be surprised when turnover potentials come up or quick passes. Keep your eyes open for easy shots.

If you are a basketball player, you know how important it is to be a well-rounded athlete. This article has provided you with the tips you need to succeed. Keep these tips in mind during your next practice to improve your game.

TIP! Even professional basketball players spend a lot of time watching other people play basketball. Go to professional games in person and/or watch them online or on TV.

It can be hard overstating the love basketball. In order to get the most out of basketball, it is important to understand it as completely as possible. This article can help people do that.

Practice your free throws. Practice a lot with the following technique.Start by holding the basketball right in front of you. Keep looking at the goal and visualize the ball going through the hoop.Then try shooting the ball with the trajectory that you visualized.

TIP! Dribble properly. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm.

Free throws are as much mental as physical. Stay calm and just focus on the goal and you will increase your ability to make free throw rate.

Play basketball against yourself even during the season and before it. While basketball is a team sport, you may not be able to find others that will play. You can accomplish a lot with solo games. Work on your free throws or practice pivot moves. There are always things you can be done.

TIP! Practice your layups a lot. Almost 80% of shots will be layups.

This is the hip area, hips, and abs. A well developed core lets a center of force with their legs to be applied to faster running and jumping higher.

Never play through pain after an injury when playing basketball. Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can easily get injured. You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you continue to play with an injury. See a physician if the injury is serious enough.

Ask teammates what they admire about your skills on the court.Do they feel you do something really good? Perhaps you are great backup or maybe your footwork is enviable.

Always be sure of where you’re placing your feet are and what they’re doing.

TIP! Free throws are mental as well as physical. It’s easy to physically train for a free throw, yet mental preparation is also needed.

To get better at shooting free throws, practice and develop a routine you will use during each shot. This may mean you want to dribble three times, bend your knees, bend at the knees, or do anything else. As long as it’s quick, you won’t have any trouble having your body memorize what you’re doing.

You need to take a charge when the opportunity presents itself.This can devastate a competitor psychologically as well as being a powerful play on the opposing team and mess up their rhythm.

TIP! Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Muscle strength is beneficial for playing any basketball position, but there is such a thing as too much.

Changing your pace can help you keep the offense on their toes. When you are getting closer to the net, try planting the front foot and start straightening up. The guard is going to think you’re starting to slow and will also straighten their own body. When that happens, run ahead and push yourself forward.

Strength and flexibility training can help your game.Stamina and physical strength are two things you need to do well in this sport. Even young kids can use fitness routines to build stronger arms and legs. As they grow and become teenagers, they can add free weights to their strengthening routine.

TIP! Good footwork remains a vital part of basketball. You do, of course, need to be near the basket, but finding the right spot without getting blocked is essential.

Basketball is enjoyed by people all over the world. But, without sufficient understanding of the intricacies of the game, newcomers may feel somewhat lost. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand basketball a bit better and that you can use some of these tips yourself.

The basics of paying basketball are fairly easy to learn. The basics can be acquired in a few minutes time. However, you can always learn more if you would like to improve your game, and this article will give you some tips to get started.

Many people forget that defense is the key to winning. Defense is what stands between you win a win. Offense is flashier, but lacking a solid defense, any basketball team is destined to lose.

TIP! Learn how to hit a free throw shot. This kind of shot seems easy, but it really is not.

Practice hitting your free throw shot.Practice a lot with the following technique.Begin by holding the ball up to eye level. Keep your eyes on the goal while visualizing the basketball going into the hoop. Then shoot the ball with the trajectory that was in your mind.

Full Speed

TIP! To be a better basketball player you should concentrate on the things that make you great. Your team will benefit more if you stop trying to be the star of the game and work your best.

Make sure to practice your layups frequently.Layups sometimes wind up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. When practicing it is important to run at full speed toward the goal, run full speed at the goal and make the shot. This method will assist you in perfecting your jumps and then shoot.

You can learn how to pass the ball if you run drills without the dribble. It is a challenge not to dribble while playing, but it does make sure you and your teammates make accurate passes.

TIP! Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. If done correctly, a well-executed bounce pass will reach the player in a way that allows them to move immediately with the ball.

Don’t pump too much iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, it is possible to have too much for perimeter play. Some shooting guards made their arms so much that they started lowering their field goal percentage.

Hand signals can help you to stay away from turning the ball over. Hand signals can tell you communicate with your teammate on the court.

TIP! Making free throws are almost as much a mental part of the game as they are a physical part. You are able to train your hands and legs to free throw well, but if you think you will fail, you will.

Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a vital part of basketball.You always want to beat the open spot.Once you have a location, you’ll have to then secure your spot. Both of those skills rely on some solid footwork.

Ask fellow team members what they admire about your skills on the court. Do they feel you do something particularly well? Perhaps you are great backup or maybe your footwork is enviable.

TIP! Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. Muscle strength can be great for basketball players, but it is actually possible to have excessive amounts for playing on the perimeter.

Speed is everything in the game of basketball. Try playing faster than the opponents for an advantage. You have to be steady as you can play quickly. But don’t try to play faster than you are able. Playing beyond your speed can result in bad passes and errant passes.

Practice with your weak hand as much as possible. Tie your strong hand behind your back to ensure you only to use your weaker hand.You will improve dribbling with your non-dominant hand soon enough.

TIP! When avoiding errant passes, use hand signals. You can become easily frustrated when a teammate does a poor job of anticipating your next passing move.

Try to get the basketball from one end of the court to the other in no more than five dribbles. This may be difficult in the beginning, but if you achieve it, you will have remarkable stride length and speed. This is a vital skill to give you accomplish great layups on those fast break opportunities.

Maybe you recently started playing basketball. Or perhaps you’ve played ever since you were young. Regardless of the reason, this article will advise you on how to improve your game. Use this information the very next time you play.

TIP! Play a good defense by knowing your opponent. Review videotapes and monitor scouting reports.

Ball handling basketball drills should always be part of all your drills for basketball. If you are a young and aspiring player, you may need to start training yourself so you can get to the top. Learning basketball is not all about watching and playing the sport. You have to practice, practice, and practice some more. Think of it as preparing for a dance routine, where youll need to run through the moves over and over again before the big show.

Basketball is not all about shooting and making points. You need to learn more basic stuff before you start worrying about scoring. First, you need to master your ball handling. If you are just starting out in the sport, then youre at the right place. Reading this article can help you improve the way you play basketball and get you better with ball handling. I have 3 great ball handling basketball drills you can include when you start training and performing drills for basketball.

1.)Double Dribbles

No, Im not going to teach you how to double dribble! You can do this ball handling basketball drill by securing two balls, one for each hand. Then dribble the ball with both hands, one for each. Try to do this without dropping or stopping the dribble from any hand continuously for 5 minutes. This can serve as a great warm up and a way to enhance your dribbling skills equally for both hands.

2.)The Figure 8 Dribble

This is a classic and an effective way to enhance ball handling. Make sure to make this part of your everyday drills for basketball. Start out by holding on to one ball and standing on a wide base of support. Spread your legs so that they are wider than your shoulders. Then, bend at your waist and start dribbling the ball on a low and fast pace with your right hand. Slowly move the ball towards the center of your spread legs then have your left hand take the ball away from your right hand and maintain the quick and low dribbles. Move the ball slowly to your left side, towards the front. Then perform the same steps you did before. This will form the Figure 8 dribble.

3.)5 Minute Circle

Grab a ball and go stand at the center of one of the basketball courts circles (free throw or half-court circles). This is a great addition to your planned drills for basketball. You need to stay in the circle and perform all the dribbling moves you know continuously. Do not stop and keep combining different dribbling techniques that you know: spin, behind the back, between the legs, inside-out, crossover, hesitation, stutter step, and many more. Do it continuously for 3 minutes at first. Then 4 minutes during the next practice. And maintain a 5 minute time for every practice then on.

You will feel considerably tired after every session but you will become more natural with the way you perform dribbling techniques. Spending time and effort to perform drills for basketball can definitely refine your moves and enhance how you play the game.

What should I need to know about basketball? What should I study to become better at the game while knowing how to appreciate what’s going on?

Make sure you are dribbling the ball correctly.When you dribble, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand. This gives you to control the ball control.

TIP! It is easy to be focused on offense when you are learning how to play basketball, but you really should focus your practice on defense. Victory requires the ability to play defense.

You need good balance to shoot well. You have seen some crazy shots made by professionals, which is not the right technique. If you have correct balance when you are making a shot, then you will find that your percentage of successful shots improves.

Never try to push through pain after an injury on the court.Basketball is physically demanding and you can get injured. Trying to play through the pain could just make your situation worse. See a doctor if the injury is serious.

Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for what’s coming. You must always be prepared to receive a pass and you need to know where players are on the ball at all times. Keep an eye open for areas that are open.

The key for controlling the ball control is to spread your fingers out. This gives you better grip on the ball. Don’t let your palms touch the ball either.

TIP! Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. Bounce passes need to be at waist level when received.

Passing between the legs is something that helps when you are being closely guarded. You can train for this technique by stepping forward or backwards as you bounce the ball real hard in-between your legs. Mastering this technique can help give you an advantage on the court.

To get more out of layups, take off with the foot that opposes your shooting hand. This will keep you balanced with forward momentum.

TIP! Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you.

Changing pace can help you have to do to make sure the offense is paying attention. When running in the direction of the net, put your foot out and straighten up your body. The guard is sure to anticipate a slow-down and will straighten themselves. When that happens, push ahead hard and outrun them.

Have your questions received answers? You can now take the court with confidence. Are you able to handle the fact that you’re going to do the best at basketball that you’ve ever done because of this article? Keep going, keep practicing, and using these tips to better your results.

TIP! Play basketball against yourself even during the off-season. These skills all help with muscle memory so you know just what to do when you’re playing in a game.

Nike named one of its shoes, the “Air Swoopes”, after the famous woman basketball player, Sheryl Swoopes, who is frequently referred to as the female ‘Michael Jordan’.

Women’s basketball began in the year 1892 in America, and gradually became a passion all around the world. It was introduced as an Olympic sport in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Since then, the game has gone from strength to strength, and has produced some amazing women champions. These women have achieved stardom with sheer determination and a spirited attitude towards the game.

Here are some of the most acclaimed queens of basketball, who mesmerized us and continue to do so with their magical skills.

Ann Meyers

Born:

March 26, 1955 (Age 57)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

1978-1981

Olympic:

Silver (1976)

Pan American Games:

Gold (1975)

World Championship:

Gold (1979)

Born in 1955, Meyers began her career in sports as an all-rounder, making a mark in badminton, field hockey, softball, and basketball during high school. In 1974, she was selected as a member of the US National Team while at high school, glorifying her to be the first girl in the history of basketball to achieve this rare feat. While studying at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Meyers also became the first woman to sign a four-year athletic scholarship at her college. She was also the first female to sign a $50,000 no-cut contract with the NBA’s (National Basketball Association) Indiana Pacers. Later, as her career progressed, she led the US Women’s National Basketball team to a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. In 1988, she became the first female to be inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.

Currently residing in California, Meyers is the president and general manager of WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and the vice-president of NBA’s Phoenix Suns. She has also served as a network television sports analyst for ESPN, CBS, and NBC for more than 26 years. She is currently a board member of the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is given annually to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.

Anne Donovan

Born:

November 1, 1961 (Age 51)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

2000-present (Coach Profile)

Olympic:

Gold (1984, 1988)

Pan American Games:

Gold (1983, 1987)

World Championship:

Gold (1983)

Born in 1961, Donovan started her career at the Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey, and led her high school team to undefeated seasons. In 1979-80, while graduating from the Old Dominion University (ODU), she helped her college team, the Lady Monarchs, win the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women basketball championship. She was also declared the Naismith College Player of the year in 1983. She was a participant in three Olympics, and won the gold medal on two occasions. She was the winner of two gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1983 and 1987. Later as a coach, she guided the US team to another gold medal in women’s basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She is the only person to have won the WNBA title both as a player and a coach. She is also a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Presently coaching the WNBA’s (Women’s National Basketball Association) Connecticut Sun, Anne Donovan is one of the most celebrated basketball players of all time.

Candace Parker

Born:

April 19, 1986 (Age 26)

Nationality:

USA

WNBA Career:

2008-present

Olympic:

Gold (2008, 2012)

During her childhood, Parker began playing under the guidance of her father, who himself was a basketball player at the University of Iowa. A skilled basketball player in high school, she was selected as the high school Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 by USA Today. While graduating at the University of Tennessee, she played for the Tennessee Lady Vols, and helped the college team win the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championships in 2007 and 2008. She was also honored with the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Champion in 2007. She won the USBWA Player of the Year (2007, 2008) and the Naismith Award in 2008. She also was the first to win the WNBA MVP (Most Valuable Player) and WNBA Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. She stands out as the first woman player to dunk in a NCAA tournament game, and is the younger sister of NBA’s famous Anthony Parker.

A famous sports star, Parker went on to win the 2009 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice award as the favorite female athlete in the sports category. Currently, she plays forward for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, and the UMMC Ekaterinburg of Russia.

Awards and Honors

Wade Trophy winner (2007)

USBWA Player of the Year (2007, 2008)

Wooden Award (2007, 2008)

Naismith Award (2008)

Honda-Broderick Cup (2008)

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)

WNBA MVP (2008)

WNBA All-Star (2011)

2× WNBA rebounding champion (2008, 2009)

Chamique Holdsclaw

Born:

August 9, 1977 (Age 35)

Nationality:

USA

WNBA Career:

1999-present

Olympic:

Gold (2000)

Born in 1977, Chamique Holdsclaw started showing basketball skills at a young age. During her high school education, she led her school basketball team to four straight New York State Championships, and was named High School All-American by the WBCA. She played under coach Pat Summitt at the University of Tennessee, and helped the college team, Lady Vols, to win the women’s NCAA’s first three consecutive Women’s Basketball Championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Later in her career, Holdsclaw won a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She became the WNBA scoring champion in 2002. She was also presented with the Sullivan award in 2008, and the Naismith Award in 2008 and 2009. She won the 2009 WNBA Rookie of the year Award. Holdsclaw is the fifth woman player in basketball to score 3,000 points.

Chamique Holdsclaw announced her retirement in 2007, but later came back to play for the Atlanta Dream. In 2010, she left Atlanta Dream and became a team member for the WNBA San Antonio Silver Stars. She has played for WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics, and San Antonio Silver Stars.

Awards and Honors

Sullivan Award (1998)

Naismith Award (1998, 1999)

WNBA Rookie of the Year (1999)

6× WNBA All-Star (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)

2× WNBA rebounding champion (2002, 2003)

WNBA scoring champion (2002)

Cheryl Miller

Born:

January 3, 1964 (Age 49)

Nationality:

American

Olympic:

Gold (1984)

Pan American Games:

Gold (1983)

Goodwill Games:

Gold (1986)

Miller started her career playing for her high school team. In her four years at Riverside Polytechnic High School, she scored a total of 3,405 points, which made her the Street & Smith’s National High School Player of the Year in 1981 and 1982. Later, as a captain of the University of California team, The Trojans, she helped the team win NCAA titles in 1983 and 1984, and was named NCAA Tournament MVP for both years. She won a gold medal at the Pan America Games in 1983, and at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She also won a gold medal at the Goodwill Games in 1986. She is sixth among the all-time great NCAA players to have crossed the 3,000 point benchmark, and also the third-highest rebound scorer in the NCAA history.

Miller suffered from a lot of injuries during the 1980s, which made her quit the professional league. After her retirement as a player, Cheryl decided to become the assistant coach at USC. She also happens to be a Television Sportscaster, and is currently working as a sideline reporter for NBA games on TNT Sports, and a reporter for NBA TV.

Cynthia Cooper

Born:

April 14, 1963 (Age 49)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

1997-2003

Olympic:

Gold (1988), Bronze (1992)

Pan American Games:

Gold (1987)

World Championship:

Gold (1990 )

Born in 1963, Cooper started playing for her high school basketball team, and led the team to the California State Championship (4A), scoring an average of 31 points per game, and scoring 45 points in a single game, which helped her win the Los Angeles Player of the Year award. After enrolling at the University of Southern California, she led the college basketball team to NCAA tournament titles in 1983 and 1984. Cooper won an Olympic gold at Seoul in 1988, and a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She also won the gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1987. She received the WNBA MVP in 1997 and 1998. In 1990, she won a gold medal at the FIBA World Championship in Malaysia. She was also presented with the CAA coach of the year award in 2010. Inducted in the Hall of Fame in the year 2009, Cooper was also voted as one of the top 15 players in the WNBA history.

Cooper announced her retirement from professional basketball in 2004. Currently, she serves as the head coach for the Texas Southern University women’s basketball team.

Awards and Honors

WNBA MVP (1997, 1998)

3× WNBA All-Star (1999, 2000, 2003)

4× WNBA Champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)

Dawn Staley

Born:

May 4, 1970 (Age 43)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

1999-2006

Olympic:

Gold (1996, 2000, 2004)

Born in 1970, Staley went on to become the National High School Player of the Year during her final season at Dobbins Tech High School in Philadelphia. She attended the University of Virginia and led her team to four NCAA Tournaments, three Final Fours, and one National Championship game. She was named the ACC Female Athlete of the Year and the National Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. She won three consecutive gold medals for her country at the Atlanta, Sydney, and Athens Olympics in the years 1996, 2000, and 2004 respectively. This helped her win the 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. All through her professional career, she played for WNBA’s Charlotte Sting and Houston Comets. She was also the flag bearer for her country at the Athens Olympics.

Apart from being a professional player, Dawn Staley happens to be a renowned coach, and served the US women’s basketball team as an assistant coach during the 2008 Olympics. She was voted as one of the top 15 players in WNBA history.

Awards and Honors

6× WNBA All-Star (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)

Diana Taurasi

Born:

June 11, 1982 (Age 30)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

2004-present

Olympic:

Gold (2004, 2008, 2012)

World Championship:

Gold (2010), Bronze (2006)

Diana Taurasi was born in 1982, and completed her preparatory career ranked second to Cheryl Miller in California state history, with a score of 3,047 points. Taurasi was named the WBCA All-American for her great performance at high school. She had a glamorous start at the University of Connecticut (UConn), leading the college team to three successive titles from 2001-02 to 2003-04. Her personal accolades at UConn include the 2003 and 2004 Naismith College Player of the Year awards, the 2003 Wade Trophy, and the 2003 Associated Press Player of the Year award. She won three consecutive gold medals for her country at the Athens, Beijing, and London Olympics in the year 2004, 2008, and 2012 respectively. She also won a bronze medal at the 2006 World Championship, and a gold medal at the 2010 World Championship.

Currently, Diana Taurasi plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA, and UMMC Ekaterinburg of Russia.

Awards and Honors

Wade Trophy Winner (2003)

Naismith Award (2003, 2004)

Nancy Lieberman Award (2003, 2004)

NCAA National Championship (2002, 2003, 2004)

NCAA Tournament MVP (2003, 2004)

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2004)

7× All-WNBA First Team (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)

All-WNBA Second Team (2005)

5× WNBA All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011)

2× WNBA Champion (2007, 2009)

5× WNBA scoring champion (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)

WNBA Most Valuable Player (2009)

WNBA Finals MVP (2009)

Lisa Leslie

Born:

July 7, 1972 (Age 40)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

1997-2009

Olympic:

Gold (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008)

World Championship:

Gold (1998, 2002)

Lisa Leslie was born in 1972. Her basketball skills at junior school prompted many universities to send her recruitment letters to join their respective universities. But she decided to join the University of Southern California, where she holds the USC single season record for blocked shots. She was honored with the National Freshman of the Year award in 1991, and the Nation’s Best Female Basketball player. She won the National Player of the Year in 1994. She was awarded with the All-American Honor in 1992, 1993, and 1994. With a towering height of 6’5″, she happens to be the first lady to dunk in women’s basketball history. She was an integral part of the Olympic gold medal winning team on four occasions. She has also been Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league thrice, and WNBA champion twice. She was awarded with a gold medal at the 1998 and 2002 World Championships.

Apart from being a prolific basketball player, Lisa also happens to be a fashion model. As an aspiring actress, she has acted in a few movies, the most famous being the ‘Think Like A Man’. She has also been featured in many sports publications.

Awards and Honors

2× WNBA Champion (2001, 2002)

3× WNBA MVP (2001, 2004, 2006)

8× WNBA All-Star (1999 – 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009)

8× First Team All-WNBA (1997, 2000 – 2004, 2006, 2008)

4× Second Team All-WNBA (1998 – 1999, 2005, 2009)

2× All-Defensive First Team (2006, 2008)

2× All-Defensive Second Team (2005, 2009)

Nancy Lieberman

Born:

July 1, 1958 (Age 54)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

1997

Olympic:

Silver (1976)

Pan American Games:

Gold (1975), Silver (1979)

Lieberman was born in 1958. Since her early years, her passion for basketball helped her earn a lot of fame. She started playing with pickup boys teams in the neighborhood, and made her way into the US Women’s National Basketball team while at high school. Nicknamed ‘Lady Magic’, Lieberman became the youngest female player to win a silver medal in basketball at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. She played an eminent part in the basketball team that went on to win a gold and a silver medal in the Pan American Games in 1975 and 1979 respectively. Lieberman is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

After retiring in 2009, she started to coach the Texas Legends, and became the first lady to coach a men’s basketball team.

Nera White

Born:

November 15, 1935 (Age 77)

Nationality:

American

World Championship:

Gold (1957)

Born in 1935, Nera White started playing for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), which was sponsored by the Nashville Business College. She led her team to ten AAU National Championships. She was also named AAU All-American for 15 years in a row from 1955 to 1969, and became the most famous player of 1950s and 1960s. She led the US National Women’s Basketball team to victory in the 1957 World Championships, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Moreover, she was voted as the Best Woman Player in the World in the same year. She is the first woman player to be included in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and is quite famous for her graceful maneuvering skills and athleticism.

To honor the great player, the high school gym in her hometown has been named after her, and also a local highway has been renamed the Nera White Highway.

Pat Summitt

Born:

June 14, 1952 (Age 60)

Nationality:

American

Olympic:

Silver (1976)

Pan American Games:

Gold (1975)

Pat Summitt was born in 1952, and started developing her basketball skills during her high school days. After enrolling at the University of Tennessee, she went on to win All-American honors for her splendid performances in basketball during her graduation. She was an integral part of the women’s basketball team that won the silver medal at the 1976 Olympics and a gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1975. Later, she became a coach for the Lady Vols at the University of Tennessee. She coached the US women’s team that won an Olympic gold, which made her the only individual to win a medal both as a player and as a coach at the Olympics. She was awarded with the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century in April 2000.

In 2012, the White House decided to honor Pat Summitt with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Most notably, she has never faced a losing season in her 38 years of coaching.

Rebecca Lobo

Born:

October 3, 1973 (Age 39)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

1997-2003

Olympic:

Gold (1996)

Born in the year 1973, Lobo set up a state scoring record during her high school career with 2,740 points, which remained unbeaten for 18 years. During her college years at the University of Connecticut, Lobo helped her college team, Huskies, win the 1995 National Championship with an undefeated 35-0 record. She was awarded the 1995 Naismith and the College Player of the Year award. Lobo went on to bring glory for her country by winning a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Rebecca attracted a great fan-following for her exuberant style. Unfortunately, her career ended quickly due to an injury to her left leg. She has a lot of awards to her honor, which mainly include the NCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, the Wade Trophy, and the WNBA’s Eastern All-Star team Award.

Lobo retired in 2003. Today, she is famous as a basketball reporter and an analyst with ESPN.

Awards and Honors

WNBA All-Star (1999)

NCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year

The Wade Trophy

WNBA’s Eastern All-Star team Award.

Ruth Riley

Born:

August 28, 1979 (Age 33)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

2001-present

Olympic:

Gold (2004)

Born in 1979, Ruth Riley started practicing basketball during high school. She scored 1,372 points, acquired 1,011 rebounds, and blocked 427 shots during her high school career. Her skills were highlighted at a later stage, when she gave her college team an unexpected win against Purdue during the last few seconds in the 2001 NCAA tournament. She won the Most Valuable Player award in the 2001 and 2003 championship series, and is the first player to win the MVP award in both NCAA and WNBA championships. Along with these honors, she is a winner of a gold medal at the Athens Olympics, 2004.

Riley has played for WNBA’s Miami Sols, Detroit Shock, and San Antonio Silver Stars, and is currently playing for the Chicago Sky. She was appointed to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports by President George W. Bush, in 2009.

Awards and Honors

WNBA All-Star (2005)

2× WNBA Champion (2003, 2006)

WNBA Finals MVP (2003)

Sheryl Swoopes

Born:

March 25, 1971 (Age 41)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

1997-present

Olympic:

Gold (1996, 2000, 2004)

World Championship:

Gold (1998, 2002) Bronze (1994,2006)

Sheryl Swoopes was born in the year 1971. Her passion for basketball helped her become a member of the 1988 Texas State Championship team. During her college years, Swoopes made many records at Texas Tech, and also won the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship with the Texas Tech Lady Raiders during her senior season. Having achieved a feat of winning three consecutive gold medals for her country at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics, Swoopes also won a bronze at the 2006 Brazil World Championship.

Swoopes has played for WNBA’s Houston Comets and Seattle Storm. Currently, she is a team member of the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock.

Awards and Honors

6× WNBA All-Star (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006)

4× WNBA Champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)

3× WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award

3× WNBA MVP Award

2× WNBA scoring champion (2000, 2005)

Swin Cash

Born:

September 22, 1979 (Age 33)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

2002-present

Olympic:

Gold (2004, 2012)

World Championship:

Gold (2010)

Born in 1979, Swin developed her basketball skills and participated at the WBCA High School All-America Game, which helped her earn MVP honors at an early age. Later, Cash enrolled in the University of Connecticut (UConn) and went on to win the NCAA Women’s Division I Basketball Championship with the UConn Huskies in 2000 and 2002. Being a prolific ball handler, defender, re-bounder, and scorer, Swin won a couple of prestigious UConn titles in 2000 and 2002. She led the Detroit Shock to their first-ever WNBA title in her second season. Swin Cash is an important member of the US National Basketball Team and has helped the team win gold medals at the 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games. She was also awarded with the 2002 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. She has also been conferred with four WNBA All-Star and three WNBA Champion awards.

Currently, Swin Cash plays for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.

Awards and Honors

NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2002)

AP All-American (2002)

Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year (2007)

4× WNBA All-Star (2003, 2005, 2009, 2011)

2× WNBA All-Star MVP (2009, 2011)

3× WNBA Champion (2003, 2006, 2010)

Teresa Edwards

Born:

July 19, 1964 (Age 48)

Nationality:

American

Olympic:

Gold (1984, 1988, 1996 and 2000), Bronze (1992)

Pan American Games:

Gold (1987), Bronze (1991)

World Championship:

Gold (1990)

Born in the year 1964, Teresa Edwards started her career at high school in Georgia, and was soon honored with the Georgia High School Player of the Year in 1982. Later, her college career started at the University of Georgia, where she became a two-time All-American. She went on to win four Olympic gold medals in 1984, 1988, 1996, and 2000, along with a bronze at the 1992 Olympic. She is the first female player to play in five Olympics. She also achieved a gold medal at the 1990 Malaysia FIBA World Championship. Edwards was also the member of the team that won a gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1987. She was appointed as the Chef de Mission for the 2012 Olympic games by the US Olympic committee.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Edwards also served as an analyst for NBC Sports coverage of basketball. She became the head coach of WNBA’s Tulsa Shock in the year 2011.

Valerie Ackerman

Born:

November 7, 1959 (Age 53)

Nationality:

American

WNBA Career:

President of

WNBA (1995-2005)

Born in 1959, Ackerman started her basketball career at Hopewell Valley Central High School, New Jersey. Later, she went to the University of Virginia for graduation, and became the first female scholarship athlete of the college. Her award list consists of the gold medal won at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and the John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Ackerman went on to become the first president of the Women’s National Basketball Association, serving from 1996 to 2005. Apart from this reputed post, she was also inducted into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1997.

After her retirement from professional basketball, Ackerman progressed her career as an attorney and a sports executive. She also teaches Leadership and Personnel Management in Columbia University’s Master of Science in Sports Management Program.

‘Genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration’, and these women embody the words aptly.

Basketball is a game that can be enjoyed by men or women. People of all ages can enjoy playing this exciting game. Get a group of friends together and show them what you’ve learned. What moves do you mean? Read this article to find out how to do new moves.

Many people only direct their attention to the offensive part of the game without realizing that defense is as important as offense during practice. Basketball games are won by the defense. Offense gets attention and praise, but lacking a solid defense, any team can lose.

TIP! Make sure you dribble properly by keeping your head held up, facing forward. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more.

Practice your free throws.Practice often using the following method. Start out by holding the basketball right before your face. Keep looking at the goal and visualize the basketball going into the hoop.Shoot on the basketball exactly as you imagine it going in.

Make sure to practice your layups frequently.Layups comprise approximately 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. When you practice, you need to be able to run toward the basket at full speed, jumping and shooting in a smooth series of motions. This type of technique will help you learn how to jump and shoot better during the game.

TIP! Learn the way to throw proper bounce passes. A bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the other player near their waist.

Bounce Pass

Learn how to throw a bounce pass. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player near their waist. A good estimation is to target the ball bounce roughly 3/4 of the distance that the recipient. There are other factors you have to think about too, though.

TIP! Lifting weights too much can actually take away from your jump shot. Even though having strong muscles is great for the inside game, being on the outside it can harm you when shooting the ball.

A good way to hone your own basketball abilities is to watch the pros.

Do not only practice zone defense. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you. If you are unprepared, you might lose your game very quickly.

TIP! Use hand signals to avoid errant passes. Players can get easily frustrated if they make a pass to players that aren’t available to catch the ball.

Would you like to learn how to fool your opponents? Try doing a back pass. Hold the basketball with your dominant hand. This is a very useful trick the opposing team.

This is the hip area, lower back, and hips. A well developed core provides a center of force with their legs while running and jumping higher.

TIP! Never try to push through pain after an injury. It is possible to receive an injury when playing basketball because it is a sport that is physically challenging.

Now that you know how to play, you can be confident when you play. You can now impress your friends with the secrets that you’ve learned. Keep in mind that the game of basketball is supposed to be a fun sport. No matter what, being a winner is always fun.

Want to increase your vertical jump next basketball season? Then its important that you discover the best exercises for increasing your vertical jump this off-season. It’s critical to get your vertical jump program started this summer if you want to see the best results in the fall for basketball tryouts.

One key point to remember is that if you simply concentrate only on one or two exercises or drills, while you may see initial gains in your vertical jump height, after about four weeks your muscles will adapt and you’ll see less gains from your vertical jump program. It’s important to switch up the exercises and change your drills and workouts if you want the best vertical jump program.

Determining Jumping Style

One important factor that is often overlooked is figuring out what type of jumper you are. Just like not every basketball player is a power forward, different basketball players have different jumping styles and a quality vertical jump program will develop specific exercises designed to increase your vertical jump no matter what type of jumping style you have.

We can break down most basketball players into two types of jumpers; Speed Jumpers and Power Jumpers.

Speed Jumper

Speed jumpers tend to be guards and smaller players that have “spring” or “bounce” and play basketball with a fluid, quick style. For these basketball “speed jumpers” its important that they focus of higher weight interval weight workouts like speed squats. These speed squats will help rapidly develop the leg strength to quickly increase your vertical jump height.

Power Jumper

Power jumpers tend to play the power and strength positions in basketball – either center or power forward. These basketball players tend to jump off two feet from a standing position instead of one foot like a guard driving to the basket. The best exercises to increase vertical jump height in these basketball players are exercises like hurdle jumps and split lunges.

Arm and Upper Body Strength is Key

A strong upper body is also important. Without a strong upper body, you won’t get the most out of your vertical jump training program. Using a powerful, strong, arm swing can help increase your momentum and increase your vertical jump height.

Pick up the intensity

Pump up the intensity. If you want to play ABOVE the rim, you’ll need to pick up your intensity level and push yourself. The increase in intensity level will help with the mental focus you’ll need late in a close game as the clock winds down and your legs are tired. Training your mind to break through fatigue and being tired is an important step in any successful vertical jump training program.